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Big Walker – Root Walking

BWCD002

Derrick Big Walker has had a long and varied career as a musician and actor. He was given harmonica lessons by Paul Butterfield and has performed with the likes of Lowell Fulsom, Michael Bloomfield (appearing on his album “Cruising For A Bruising”), Big Mama Thornton, Luther Tucker and Jimmy McCracklin as well as performing and recording with Eric Bibb. And, for those of you who attended, he has appeared with both Jimmy Dawkins and Zora Young at the Great British R&B Festival, Colne.

Considering his pedigree it is surprising we haven’t heard more of him, but Walker will put this right with this fine CD which is subtitled “Afro-American poems from1700-1800 put to music and original songs”.

I cannot praise this set highly enough – just buy it! (www.bigwalker.us)

Mick Rainsford

BIG WALKER

Root Walking: Americana Blues & Roots
Big Walker 2012

Well now, this is a very interesting one. Derrick 'Big' Walker may not be a name that immediately springs to mind, but over the last forty years he's done time with the likes of Luther Tucker, Big Mama Thornton and Mike Bloomfield , but this solo CD sees him taking some Afro-American poems from 1700 - 1800 along with some of his own original songs, on a splendid set of "Americana Blues & Roots".

As well as writing and singing, Mr Walker takes care of harmonica and saxophone on this CD, and when the various elements gel, it's a really engaging release. It's a largely harp driven release, which is fine by me, as it brings to the fore his Chicago influences from the likes of Waters, Butterfield and his former emplyer Bloomfield.

He's not the most listenable of singers, so prepare yourself for a lot of gruffness, but on songs like 'Papa Guede' and 'Devils Cloth', it suits the mood perfectly. There are some songs you think you know, like 'Mystery Train' and 'Midnight Special', but these interpretations make them seem like brand new. An excellent, surprising and thoughtful release.

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31/07/2012

Keys and Chords

Big Walker is perhaps not the most prominent names in contemporary blues landscape. Derrick Roy Michael Walker aka Big Walker was born in 1953 in Fort Sill Lawton, Oklahoma. In '62 Walker moved with his mother to San Francisco. There he would be influenced by the music by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane.Still enjoyed Derrick harmonica lessons of Paul Butterfield and he was introduced to playing the saxophone by Bobby Forte Jukes and Nole. Not much later he would play with Lowell Fulson, Big Mama Thornton, Percy Mayfield, Sugar Pie De Santos and Jimmy McCracklin. The album 'Root Walking' is the successor of the successful 'Still Dream Walking' from 2009, where in addition to Eric Bibb also Jimmy Dawkins, Zora Young and cooperate in the investigation. "Root Walking 'is an excellent disc recorded with some spiritual and poetic 17 and 18 century traditional poems. Walker foresaw these phrases of contemporary music arrangements and which are directly opposite a lot of original work. With simple guitar, bass and drums he takes the songs very close to the juke-joints, the Deep South and Delta. Together with his diatonic and chromatic harp Walker turns every track into a true blues anthology. The disc opens with the Chicago blues tinged "It's Hard." But in 'A Race Ruckus ", the spirit of Muddy Waters really emerge. In 'Wild Black Bill' Walker with his harmonica cuts very deep into our skin pores.Slavery and hardship spirited 'Nigri Run Run', with its heavenly backing vocals, soul and gospel sound like an absolute masterpiece. With "Can not Take No Train," the fever to yet another climax. Elvis Presley also drew here not from the mustard. Like the contrast 'The Hypocrite Blues' escalating and uptempo blues. With 'Devil's Cloth "we even to New Orleans. We have actually thumbs and fingers too short for this licking. Besides excellent original material Big Walker succeeds admirably in editing ancient poetic lyrics. Musically "Root Walking 'cross our blue marrow back. "Root Walking '... is damn good blues! You feel the spirit of the Afro-American roots music, the heat or the cotton fields and the incredible blues style. Philip Verhaeghe (5)

31/07/2012

Big Walker - Root Walking

WeakSuper "Americana Blues & Roots" is the subtitle of the album, which was published by the blues harp player and saxophonist Big Walker now. Basis of the songs are African American poetry from past and present.

Big Walker - I'll give it freely to - was unknown to me. I was more surprised. when I found among his masters as diverse artists such as Paul Butterfield and Jimmy Witherspoon. And over the last decades of the harmonica and saxophone player with among other things, Mike Bloomfield, played Big Mama Thornton and Luther Tucker. With The Soul Rebels, he was traveling in Europe in the '80s and remained for some years on this side of the Atlantic. Especially in Scandinavia, he has his fan base. So it should be understood also that he has "Walking Roots," his second solo album, recorded in Stockholm, Sweden.

But the place does not really matter: Big Walker plays traditional blues in style throughout the Mississippi Delta.sometimes it geibt trips to New Orleans and Chicago also appears on the musical map. And you should never forget that the churches are as much as the cotton fields to the sources of the blues. And there are even Soul Blue sounds in songs like "slave".

But the music - played consistently at the highest level and contagious enthusiasm - only is one side of this remarkable album. It is exciting as well as Walker old poems - from nursery rhymes to ballads - links and own lyrics with the music to blues, the deep African-American traditions, breathing on the other hand is lively as the music of neo-traditionalists such as Eric Bibb (with whom he is friends) and Keb 'Mo'. I would compare "Roots Walkin 'in its approach rather with albums such as recent works by Otis Taylor, or the Heritage Blues Orchestra: Only if the Blues reserves the story in mind, he remains alive as the music. But only when the music will also look in the present and the future, it remains relevant. Highly recommended!

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Big Walker – Root Walking

Time: 46:04

Derrick Big Walker may not be the most prominent name featured in blues circles throughout the world. It still doesn’t stop him from winning endorsements from the likes of Blues Revue, Living Blues and Alligator label honcho Bruce Iglauer.

Having played with Luther Tucker, Big Mama Thornton, Mike Bloomfield and many others has been his bread and butter and these ingredients are the key factors in making the Root Walking CD a listenable piece of recording.

Setting old American poems from two centuries ago to music isn’t a formula most musicians follow. It’s a challenge that’s hard to pull off yet Walker can do it modernizing the material to today’s present standards.

Saxophone and harmonica are Walker’s playing cards. You can tell the man probably loves the harp as his instrument of choice as it’s the centerpiece for the majority of the songs. Nothing wrong with that as this cd bears the imprint of Chicago Delta styled blues made fashionable by Muddy Waters and resurrected by apostles Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield.

Walker’s sandpaper vocals are far from being technically perfect. Their gruffness is still suited to the material. Although this piece of work was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden it’s instantly forgettable as you would swear these tracks were laid down in some studio located in Chicago, Tennessee or New Orleans. The hoodoo strut of “Papa Guede” is the perfect precursor to the tent revival evil chanted “Devils Cloth” that cloaks itself in its darkness proudly.

Previously speaking of Muddy Waters, nowhere is that presence more felt than in opening cut “It’s Hard” which lopes along lazily until second track “Raise A Ruckus” raises the roof with Walker’s harp leading the cavalry into a lowland fling party after the battle. Even when a bit of a breather comes like in “Run Night Run,” the background vocals are the cushion for Walker to spray harmonica notes over to carry the number along an ominous edge. It’s a contrast to the uplifting cowpoke sounding “The Hypocrite Blues” that ends like a flash of light before you begin to appreciate its Western Plains atmosphere.

And in case for some listeners when things are getting a bit complacent, than “Can’t Take No Train” will pick up the slack though it’s a rewrite of the obscure chestnut “Mystery Train” made popular back in the day by Elvis Presley. Not that it will matter to fans needing a fix of that boogie fever so they can feel the effect of being in an old blues bar in Chicago with the time machine dials set somewhere in the 1950s.

After Credence Clearwater Revival covered “Midnight Special” it seemed very likely this song would fade into the ether. With the escalating interest in blues, artists have dug this song out of obscurity and have put their own personal stamp on it. Joining the ranks, Walker’s sandpaper vocals do the song justice and although it may not capture the energy level that CCR created, the tune fits in well with the others as Walker’s harp playing once again carries the song across its joyous waters.

Ending track “Slave” contemplates the hardships of the Afro-American. It’s a strange way to end an album. Then again maybe it’s not. In his press release reads the quote “Afro-American poems from 17-1800 and his own original songs.” If Derrick Walker wants to take on the role of blues historian, he certainly has earned that right. No harm could come of a musician educating the listener and taking them on a journey to where the heritage of roots music began.

Reviewer Gary Weeks is a contributing writer. He resides in Marietta, GA.

Rock 'n' Roll Call: Derrick "Big" Walker - Root Walking

By Bill Locey on September 13, 2012 3:00 PM Share:

Derrick "Big" Walker's latest is "Root Walking" and it's on City Hall Records, providing further proof that the blues are alive and well. This guy kicks ass and if you didn't know better, you'd think John Lee Hooker was still with us. Walker is a Sooner who came to the Bay Area back in those silly '60s where he took harmonica lessons from Mike Bloomfield, then played in Europe for decades and now, here he is. As good as Black Joe Lewis, Seasick Steve and any of the contemporary blues guys - this is not the boring cry in you beer blues by a long shot. Walker has such a smooth groove - you'll be hooked halfway through the first one, "It's Hard," and it doesn't let up. One of the year's best.

Categories: Rock 'n' Roll Call

Barrelhouseblues

Root Walking - City Hall Records Big Walker The cover of this CD states, "Afro-American poems from 17-1800 put to music and original songs," - so we weren't quite sure what at expect... What we discovered was a delightful blend of tunes, some familiar, some not, all of which are performed in a traditional yet unique and entertaining way. Derrick Big Walker is a product of Native and African-American roots who during his life, was drawn to Country, Blues and Folk music. Hence he likes to call his music Americana Blues. Whatever you choose to call it. It inspires, uplifts, provokes thought pertaining to a culture, and tells a story - which is what all of the above genres do when written and performed at their best. Which this collection of songs is. A great release. Check it out. http://blueswalker.com/